(54) VASCULAR EMBOLISM PREVENTION DEVICE EMPLOYING FILTERS
(76) Inventors: T. Anthony Don Michael, 4109 Sill
PL, Bakersfield, CA (US) 93306; Peter
Besselink, Gronausestratt 1220, 7534
AT Encschede (NL)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/803,641
(22) Filed: Mar. 12, 2001
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2001/0044634 Al Nov. 22, 2001
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 60/188,179, filed on Mar. 10, 2000.
(51) Int. CI.7 A61M 29/00
(52) U.S. CI 606/200; 606/159
(58) Field of Search 606/191, 200,
606/159, 198; 604/104, 105, 106, 107
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Danny Worrell
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Browdy and Neimark, P.L.L.C.
(57) ABSTRACT
A method and system for preventing embolism and optimizing flow to downstream organs in a blood flow circuit incident to performance ol a treatment at a location in a blood vessel, by: introducing a first filter element into the blood vessel downstream ol the location so that the first filter element obturates the blood vessel; performing the treatment; introducing a second filter element into the blood vessel upstream ol the location so that the second filter element obturates the blood vessel; and, alter the step ol performing a treatment, bringing the first and second filter elements close to one another, radially collapsing the first and second filter elements and withdrawing the first and second filter elements from the blood vessel.
23 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
